“Had an overwhelming desire to be close to you with a sharp instrument this morning, sir,” Rupert confessed without remorse.
“And what does that mean?” Kolton snapped angrily as he snatched the razor from the unrepentant valet’s hand and proceeded to finish the job himself.
“It means, my lord, that I never thought I would see the day when you would take advantage of a young lady, especially a sweet creature such as Lady Prudence.”
Kolton wiped the last traces of soap from his face and flopped back down in his chair with a heavy sigh. He didn’t question how the man knew what had happened. Rupert had an uncanny knack of finding things out—whether one wanted him to or not. “Neither did I, Rupert. Neither did I.”
“So, what
were
you thinking, bedding her?” Rupert asked indignantly.
Kolton straightened and looked down his nose at his insolent employee. “I need not explain myself to you; do not presume to be impertinent with me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, my lord,” came Rupert’s tart reply. “If nothing else, my lord, I know my place.”
Kolton cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry. This situation has me more than a bit rattled.”
“I should say so.”
The steam went out of Kolton. He sagged back in the chair, closing his eyes with a weary sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. “In utter truth, Rupert, I have no idea how this happened. I can pretty much assume I know
what
happened, but not how it came about.”
“I don’t understand, my lord, are you saying you didn’t mean to bed her?” The look on his valet’s face clearly indicated he found that bit of information incredible. “Are you trying to say it was some sort of accident? ‘Sorry m’lady, it just slipped.’” he quipped.
“This is no joke, Rupert. No, damn it, I didn’t mean to bed her! It’s no bloody excuse, I know, but I was too far gone from drink last night, and I believe I mistook Pru’s room for mine.”
“And Lady Prudence for a common trollop?” Rupert added unhelpfully.
“As horrid as it sounds, that is about the truth of the matter, I’m afraid.”
“Bloody, hell! Pardon me, my lord.”
“No, Rupert, that was precisely my choice of words this morning when I realized what must have—
did
—happen last night.”
“I hope you didn’t share your sentiments with the lady, my lord. I mean, reacting in such a way with a woman you have just bedded is about the worst—”
“No, no,” Kolton interrupted, “she was gone when I woke this morning. I have no idea how she feels or what she thinks of what happened.”
“Well then,” Rupert said helping him into his coat, “that brings us back to my original question. What do you intend to do?”
“The only thing I can do,” Kolton sighed. “Marry her.”
Chapter Four
Prudence finished her breakfast and attempted to appear absorbed in the book she had open in front of her. As she began reading the same page for the fourth time, she glanced surreptitiously around the lobby as she waited for Kolton to arrive and they could be underway. When she saw no sign of him, she turned her attention back to her book.
“Ready to leave, Pru?”
Startled by the deep, satiny voice that trickled over her nerve endings like warm honey, Prudence glanced up to find the object of her thoughts standing directly in front of her. How had she not notice him approach? He looked none the worse for wear she noted, her gaze finding no sign of ill effect from the evening before as it flitted over his face. It surprised her a little, considering his night of drinking and... Well, other activities.
No
. She was not going to think about last night! She would surely blush furiously, and he would no doubt notice and wonder at it. If she was going to brazen her way through this and stick to her plan, she couldn’t give herself away so easily.
“Quite ready.” She smiled pleasantly at him. “And you, my lord? Have you eaten?”
The earl studied her curiously for a moment, an almost imperceptible frown wrinkling his brow before it disappeared, and his expression was once again one of polite interest.
Oh no!
Did he remember? If he did...? She pushed the thought away. He didn’t. If anything, he was most likely, and understandably, curious as to how he ended up in her room this morning. He may assume the worst, but was,
hopefully,
unable to recall the details. She had worked out a good plan. If he had any concerns about what had happened between them last night, she was prepared to put them to rest.
Stick to the plan, Prudence, and everything will be fine
.
“Actually, yes, I dined in my room,” he replied, the thoughtful expression returning for a moment. Prudence fought to keep from showing any sign of how nervous she truly was. “Well,” he said clapping his hands together and giving a robust sigh. “We should be on our way then.” Though his expression and stance were nonchalant, something in his eyes gave Prudence the unsettling impression that he was not as lighthearted as he seemed.
As he took her hand and helped her to her feet, Prudence repeated silently to herself:
last night never happened...Last night never happened.
However, the litany did little to dampen the heat growing inside her at the light touch of her gloved hand in his.
As they walked from the building, he placed his hand possessively on her lower back, and steered her toward the waiting coach. She couldn’t stop the flush that flew to her cheeks at the warmth of his hand. It seeped through the layers of clothing separating them, bringing back with startling clarity the memory of how the same hand had caressed her so intimately only a few short hours before. She carefully kept her expression neutral as he helped her into the vehicle.
***
Pru was behaving as if nothing was out of the ordinary, and it took Kolton completely off guard. They shared some small talk, commented on the weather, how the heat of the last few days had finally passed, and their hope that this respite would prove to make their trip back to London comfortable.
When a lull came in conversation, Pru picked up her book. Excusing herself to read for a bit, she settled into her seat and began to read as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Kolton sat back in his seat. Stretching out his legs in front of him and crossing his ankles, he considered how to proceed.
“You have been reading the same page for a good thirty minutes, my dear,” He stated when he could stand to wait no longer.
“Oh! I thought you had fallen asleep. You have been so quiet,” she replied with a poor attempt at merriment.
“Pru, we need to discuss what happened last night.”
Her shoulders sagged and she sighed deeply. “Really, Kolton, I completely understand why you would be disturbed at mistaking my room for yours, especially in the state you were in, but no harm was done.”
Kolton lifted a brow and narrowed his eyes. “
Really?
No harm done? How do you come to that conclusion?”
“Well, you know. Oh, perhaps you don’t recall,” she added with a small frown. “Once I realized you had perhaps imbibed more than you should, rather than make an issue and direct you back to your own room, I simply slipped out and spent the rest of the night in Amanda’s. So really, as I said, no harm was done.” She finished her story with a smile.
“I see,” he said rubbing his chin. “Well, that is a perfectly good explanation for how I came to be in your bed this morning.”
“Well, yes. It is, after all, how you got there.”
Yes, being drunk was how he
got
there, but as to the rest? Not
bloody
likely.
“Mmm, yes. But it does not explain—” he paused for dramatic effect as he looked her straight in the eye, “—the blood I found on the sheets. Do you also have an explanation for that?”
She blinked a couple of times, then her cheeks flamed, her eyes growing round and glassy. Apparently, when she concocted her fool story, she hadn’t considered explaining away the evidence of the loss of her maidenhead. Kolton was interested to see what excuse she would come up with. Just as he expected, a quick look of triumph flashed in her eyes before she lowered them to her clasped hands and voiced the only logical excuse she could use.
“Kolton!” she admonished in a believably embarrassed tone. “There are some things that are simply
not
suitable for discussion in mixed company.” He thought the added bit of squirming uncomfortably in her seat was a nice touch. “I apologize profusely for leaving you there with the bed in such a state. Yes, I surely should have spoken up and made you leave the room.”
“Oh, leave off, Pru. I know what happened, what
really
happened, last night, and it was
not
your woman’s flow left on the sheets.”
This got her attention, and an outraged gasp to boot. “Just what, exactly, are you suggesting, my lord?”
“What I am suggesting, you little prevaricator, is that the blood was from the breaching of your maidenhead. If it had not been for the fact I found your virgin’s blood on my member as well, your story might have been plausible. But since I did, and it is not, I believe we should stop this nonsense and discuss the future.”
Her face grew cherry red at his frank words. The mask of indignation melted away and she slumped in her seat.
She straightened suddenly, and met his eyes with a startled look. “F-Future? I expect nothing from you. As far as I am concerned, n-nothing happened. We can forget the whole thing and go on as if last night never occurred.”
She looked, and sounded, panicked. Kolton frowned. Was the idea of a future as his wife so off-putting she would be upset at the prospect? Or, perhaps she thought he would not be a man and step up to his responsibilities? Well, if that was what she imagined, he would set her straight in the matter.
“Pru,” he said gently, leaning forward and taking her hand between his own, “forgetting may not be an option, or have you neglected to consider that you might be carrying my child?”
Pru inhaled sharply; her hand flew from between his and rested on her stomach.
“I see you haven’t,” he remarked dryly. Reclaiming her hand, he looked into her eyes. “Pru, I cannot find the words to express how deeply I regret my behavior. Being inebriated is no excuse for what I did to you. But I will make it right. We will marry right away and—”
“No.”
“Pardon? Did you just say ‘
no’
?”
“That is exactly what I said,” she stated calmly. “I am not pregnant, and I will not marry you.”
Kolton fell back in his seat incredulous. Not marry him? He was an
earl
! And one, he might add, with a high social standing, an impressive fortune, and powerful friends! Was she daft? He’d been fighting off title-seeking, money hungry women, and marriage minded mammas for years—and she says
no
when he finally breaks down and proposes?
Kolton successfully swallowed an indignant retort. Pru was understandably confused and upset, he reminded himself. The situation they now found themselves in was entirely unexpected. She was simply reacting out of worry for her future. Though, how she found refusing to marry him comforting was beyond his comprehension.
“I’m sorry, Pru, but I fail to see why you would turn down my offer.”
“Correct me if I am mistaken, my lord, but you don’t really wish to marry me, do you. Or should I assume this proposal stems from some suspiciously sudden, newfound affection for me? No, no,” she raised a staying hand when he opened his mouth to answer. “If the events of last night had never transpired, would you would be proposing right now? Come now, Kolton, be honest. You wouldn’t be.”
“If I am to be honest, as you have requested; then, no, I wouldn’t be proposing marriage to you. In truth, I haven’t had the urge to propose to any woman up ‘til now.”
“That is most likely because every woman outside your family is more than willing to toss up her skirts at the tiniest bit of encouragement from you, and therefore offer little challenge for you.” she replied dryly then blushed furiously.
So, his Prudence had a feisty side. How intriguing.
“Be that as it may,” he rejoined, barely suppressing an amused smile, “the situation is what it is. I have no assurance you have not conceived, and I will not take the chance of a child of mine being born a bastard. Or can you provide tangible proof that what I found on the sheets was due to your woman’s time?”
Pru’s color deepened, if that were possible. She shook her head.
“Well then,” he said confidently, “the matter is settled. I will obtain a special license upon our return. We will make the arrangements and be married right away.”
Pru paled, but her face grew militant, her lips compressing in a thin line. “I will not be forced—indeed
bullied—
into marriage!”
Kolton’s brows drew together in confusion. “Bullied? Whereas it is true the situation necessitates, or forces as you suggest, we marry in all haste, I am certainly not in the habit of bullying women. And I am not trying to bully you now. I am only trying to be reasonable.”
“Reasonable?” she huffed. “You are being high handed and giving me no choice in the matter!”
“What other choice is there, Pru?” he asked, motioning with his hand in an exasperated gesture.
“Well,” she said sitting back, tapping her chin thoughtfully with one slender finger. “If I
were
expecting, I could retire to France before I begin to increase noticeably. Somewhere in the countryside—a small cottage, perhaps—where no one knows me and I can claim to be newly widowed. And,” she continued, her eyes brightening as she warmed to the idea, “I can send letters back claiming to have befriended a young lady in an ‘unfavorable’ position. I can say that, before she passed in childbirth, the young woman begged me to raise her child and I agreed.” She finished her story with a note of satisfaction ringing in her voice.